Fall 2007 Courses

* Please note that the printed Emory College Fall 2007 Atlas is INCORRECT. Correct course information is available below.

Please Note: The information given in the Course Atlas is subject to change.

For final schedule information, please refer to OPUS or the professor of the course.

PSYC 110: Introduction to Psychology I: Psychobiology and Cognition

Edwards, MWF 10:40-11:30, MAX: 120

Content: This is the first half of a two-semester sequence, and introduces the field of contemporary psychology from a neuroscience perspective. The course has to do with the organization and operation of the nervous system as it pertains to behavior and it's cognitive underpinnings. Topics receiving special attention include the development of sexual identity, sensation and perception, learning and memory, love, fear, and other emotions. The course fulfills one-half of the introductory course requirement for psychology majors.

Text: One recommended text.

Particulars: Two mid-term examinations and an optional comprehensive final exam. All students enrolled in the course are required to participate in human subject research studies within the psychology department. Students have the option of substituting a special project, details to be arranged with Professor Edwards, for this participation.

PSYC 110: Introduction to Psychology I: Psychobiology and Cognition

Hampton, Tues Thurs 1:00-2:15, MAX: 115

PSYC 111: Introduction to Psychology II: Social, Developmental, Personality and Abnormal Psychology

Cale, Tues Thurs 11:30-12:45, MAX: 120

Content: This second semester of introductory psychology will cover in broad brushstrokes the major areas of experimental design, social psychology, social and emotional development, personality measurement and theory, psychopathology, and therapeutic interventions. Emphasis will be on the empirical foundations of psychological knowledge, and on fostering students' critical thinking about behavior.

Texts: There will be one primary textbook and supplemental readings.

Particulars: Exams will include a mixture of multiple choice and short essay questions. Participation in research projects or equivalent is required.

PSYC 190S: Freshman Seminar: Psychology From a Novel Perspective: What Can Fictional Works Tell Us About Non-Fictional Human Behavior?

Duke, Tues Thurs 10:00-11:15, MAX: 16

Content: This seminar will begin with a basic grounding in three areas of psychology: 1) psychoanalytic, behavioral, and interactional approaches to personality; 2) family dynamics; and 3) psychological and social development from childhood to old age. Using this information about real people, five current works of fiction will be read and analyzed. Emphasis will be on the manner in which psychological knowledge can be applied not only to the characters and plots in the novels, but to their writers as well. Further focus will be on the ways in which knowledge gained from fictional characters can be applied to the understanding of real-life people and situations. Students will be required to prepare three term papers and to participate actively in class discussions.

Particulars: Freshmen only. PERMISSION OF DEAN ROBERT BROWN IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT.

PSYC 190S: Freshman Seminar: Social Influence

Strock, Tues Thurs 10:00-11:15, MAX: 15

Content: Everyday, we are bombarded by efforts from other people to change our attitudes or behavior; vote for this candidate, buy this product, follow these rules. Sometimes, the pressure to change is subtle and indirect and sometimes, it is blatant and direct. Why are these attempts to change our attitudes and behavior so often successful? This seminar will begin with a consideration of the three main types of social influence: compliance, conformity and obedience. We will then examine their role in shaping our attitudes and behavior as we go about the business of daily life. We will be looking at these questions primarily from the perspective of social psychological research, but will also incorporate material from books, movies and other types of popular media.

Particulars: Students will be required to write two term papers and to participate actively in class discussions. Freshmen only. PERMISSION OF DEAN ROBERT BROWN IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT.

PSYC 200WR: Experimental Methods (Lecture)

Bliwise, Tues Thurs 1:00-2:15, MAX: 98

Labs:

• Gault, M 1:00-2:15, MAX: 18, Psych Building Room 127
• Jones, M 2:30–3:45, MAX: 18, Psych Building Room 127
• Paxton, W 1:00-2:15, MAX: 18, Psych Building Room 127
• Esterberg, W 2:30-3:45, MAX: 18, Psych Building Room 127
• TBA, W 4:00-5:15, MAX: 18, Psych Building Room 127

Content: Introduction to research design and scientific thought in psychology, including observational, survey, and experimental approaches. Lectures and laboratory exercises provide students with a basis for (a) understanding and evaluating published research; (b) planning, executing, and reporting the results of research studies, and (c) communicating research findings clearly and concisely with APA style.

Texts: Two textbooks are required: McBurney & White Research Methods (current edition) Szuchman Writing with Style (current edition). We will also be using the radio frequency personal response system (clickers) manufactured by GTCO. Students who do not already own a clicker will need to purchase one. Physics, Biology, and Chemistry all use the same clicker; if you have one, save it.

Particulars: The class lectures meet on Tuesday and Thursdays.  Students should sign up for a 75-minute lab on Monday or Wednesday.  Course requirements include three small research projects, written evaluations of published research, and interactive classroom activities.

PREREQUISITE: Prior completion of PSYC 230.

PSYC 205: Child Development

Strock, MWF 9:35-10:25 , MAX:70

Content: The ways individuals interact with the world and with each other change dramatically from birth to adolescence. The first goal of Child Development is to trace changes during infancy, the preschool years, middle childhood, and adolescence in the domains of cognition, language, social behavior, and self concept. The second goal of the course is to examine the factors that influence the course of development, including heredity and the social, cultural, family, and physical environment.

Particulars: Three exams, each covering approximately 1/3 of the course, and a short paper (approximately 5 pages).

PREREQUISITE: Prior completion of Psyc 100, 110 or 111.

PSYC 209: Perception and Action

Nygaard, Tues Thurs 2:30-3:45, MAX: 30

Content: The purpose of this course is to examine how perceivers take in, gather, organize, and act on information experienced through the senses. Topics covered will include: 1) visual, auditory, and somatosensory perception; 2) behavioral and neurological research methods for uncovering sensory and perceptual processes; and 3) motor control perception-action links. The format of the course will be primarily lecture with some discussion. Students will read a primary introductory text along with supplemental readings from a selection of books and journals. Both theoretical and methodological issues will be covered.

PSYC 210: Abnormal Psychology

Nowicki, Tues Thurs 10:00-11:15, MAX: 90

Content: Coverage of all major adult psychological disorders in terms of their etiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Particular emphasis will be placed on: (1) exposing students to the major theoretical and conceptual models of abnormal behavior, and (2) providing students with the skills to become more critical consumers of the burgeoning literature on psychopathology.

PREREQUISITE: Prior completion of PSYC 111.

PSYC 211: Childhood Psychopathology

Alden, Tues Thurs 10:00-11:15, MAX: 60

Content: The format of the course is lecture and discussion, and focuses on abnormal behaviors occurring in children from infancy through adolescence. Topics will include the assessment classification, and treatment of abnormal behavior, as well as the clinical description of the psychiatric syndromes. Theory and research on the causes of childhood disorders will be emphasized as well as the relation between normal and abnormal development.

PREREQUISITE: Prior completion of PSYC 111 or 110.

PSYC 230: Applied Statistics for Psychology (Lecture)

Bliwise, MWF 3:00-3:50, MAX: 110

Labs:

• Ortigo, TH 1:00-1:50, MAX:12, Dental Building 123
• Ammirati, TH 2:00-2:50, MAX:12, Dental Building 123
• Beckwith, TH 3:00-3:50, MAX:12, Dental Building 123
• Popei, TH 4:00-4:50, MAX:12, Dental Building 123
• Brand, TH 5:00-5:50, MAX:12, Dental Building 123
• Raper, F 9:35-10:25, MAX:12, Dental Building 123
• Robbins, F 10:40-11:30, MAX:12, Dental Building 123
• Sanford, F 11:45-12:35, MAX:12, Dental Building 123
• Stephens, F 12:50-1:40, MAX:12, Dental Building 123

Content: This course provides an introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics commonly used in psychological research. Descriptive statistics include measures of central tendency, variability, and correlation. The logic of statistical inference is addressed and students learn to calculate and interpret a range of univariate statistics. Examples are taken largely from psychological research. This course emphasizes the application of statistics to specific research problems. Students will learn to select appropriate statistics, perform calculations, and interpret the results of statistical tests.

Texts: Two texts are required: Hurlburt Comprehending Behavioral Statistics (current edition) and Kirkpatrick and Feeney SPSS Guide (current edition). We will also be using the radio frequency personal response system (clickers) manufactured by GTCO. Students who do not already own a clicker will need to purchase one. Physics, Biology, and Chemistry all use the same clicker; if you have one, save it.

Particulars: The class lectures will meet on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Students should enroll in a one-hour lab that meets on Thursday or Friday.

PSYC 231: Psychological Tests and Measurements

Shapiro, T TH 10:00-11:15, MAX: 15

Content: The course reviews the psychometric and legal standards for the construction and use of psychological and educational tests. The course includes coverage of the quantitative methods of measuring reliability, validity and differential prediction.

Texts: Reading materials are downloaded from internet sites.

Particulars: Computational homework assignments and term paper.

PSYC 240: Psychology and Law

Shapiro, T TH 11:30-12:45, MAX: 30

Content: The course reviews the professional practice of psychology and the legal regulations governing the practice as well as topic related to legal capacity of criminal defendants and involuntary civil commitment. Topics include confidentiality, privilege, child abuse, fiduciary duty, insanity and competency to stand trial.

Texts: Statutes and court decisions are downloaded from internet.

Particulars: Two mid-term exams and final exam each count one-third of course grade. Exams are in short-answer question format.

PSYC 310: Cognitive Development

Lourenco, Tues Thurs 2:30-3:45, MAX: 30

Content: This course examines the development of cognition. There is an emphasis on how scientific theory and different experimental approaches are used to study cognitive development. The topics include how children learn to reason about physical properties and corresponding changes in representation; also covered are the development of memory, language, spatial and numerical reasoning, as well as social cognition. The focus is on origins of particular cognitive abilities, variability across context, and change over time. This course will cover development from infancy through school age, with a particular emphasis on the early years.

Particulars: Grading will be based on short critical thought papers and exams.

PSYC 320: Animal Behavior (Same as BIO 320)

Gouzoules, Tues Thurs 2:30-3:45 , MAX: 86: PSYC=43, BIOL=43,

Content: This course provides an overview of major research areas in the field of animal behavior. The behavior of animals will be analyzed from an evolutionary and comparative perspective. Specific topics include orientation and migration, genetic and environmental influences on behavior, aggression, courtship and mating strategies, parental behavior, foraging, predator-prey relationships, and social organization.

Particulars: Two one hour exams and a final. The three exams are weighted so that your best score represents 40% of the course grade, the lowest score 25%, and the middle score 35%.

PSYC 323: Drugs and Behavior

Neill, MWF 10:40-11:30, MAX: 180

Content: This course is a survey of the neurobehavioral effects of the various classes of psychoactive drugs, e.g., stimulants, tranquilizers, hallucinogens, etc. Although human experience is taken as the starting point of each drug effect covered, most of the experimental data presented are concerned with attempts to understand behavioral drug effects using nonhuman animal models. A fundamental idea is that by understanding the brain mechanisms through which psychoactive drugs exert their effects, we can understand the brain mechanisms of pain, perception, anxiety, schizophrenia, depression, etc.

Particulars: First year students CANNOT take this course.

PSYC 330: Personality Theories

Blagov, MWF 10:40-11:30, MAX: 40

Content: This is a survey course covering psychological theory, history, and research in the area of personality. Topics such as controversies in the field of personality assessment, cognitive and biological influences on personality, genetics and personality and gender differences in personality will be covered.

Prerequisite: PSYC 100, 110 or 111.

PSYC 415S: Sleep and Dreaming

Rodman, F 9:30-12:30, MAX: 15

Content: This course will focus on the neural mechanisms and phenomenology of sleep as a basis for discussing its implications for behavior, cognition, evolution, and related philosophical issues. Specific topics to be addressed include the neurobiology of sleep, the role of sleep in memory and other cognitive phenomena, theories of dreaming, relationships between sleep, mood, and other drives and conditions, individual and species differences in sleep behavior, lucid dreaming and other subjective components of dream experience, sleep and drugs, and sleep as a model for studying states of consciousness.  

Readings: One or two monographs (paperback) for general background as well as articles from the primary literature.

Particulars: Brief writing assignments, class presentation, and participation in discussions. Students will also keep a dream journal and/or sleep log. The course fulfills the advanced seminar requirement.

Prerequisite: PSYC 110 or equivalent biopsychology background and at least one additional course in any area of psychology or NBB. PERMISSION OF THE INSTRUCTOR IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT.

PSYC 475S: The Origins of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Walker, Tues 9:00-12:00, MAX: 15

Content: This advanced seminar will deal with the nature and origins of psychotic disorders. We will examine the manifest symptoms of psychotic disorders and their developmental course across the life span. Students will also study key findings on etiology and neural mechanisms responsible for psychotic symptoms.

Particulars: A research paper will be required.

Prerequisite: Psychology and NBB majors only.